Bodies in Motion: Flash/Blur with George Simian - L A

BODIES IN MOTION: FLASH/BLUR - JANUARY 19TH

Photographing dancers is an attempt to capture their feats of physical prowess with grace and illusionary effortlessness - but traditional approaches fail to display the range and energy of the dancer’s motion through space.

Our advanced workshop presents a sophisticated lighting technique that transcends conventional limitations. By meticulously combining strobe and continuous lighting technologies, we'll create images that simultaneously capture a dancer's precise form and the fluid dynamism of their motion.

This technical masterclass will teach you to use extremely short-duration flash synchronized with continuous LED lighting. This will enable you to render a dancer's body in razor-sharp detail while generating an impressionistic blur that communicates the movement's true emotional power. Color gels will provide additional visual separation, allowing you to distinguish between static and kinetic elements within a single exposure.
You will develop advanced technical skills in movement anticipation, precision timing, and complex lighting techniques.

The workshop offers an intimate learning environment with only 12 students, ensuring personalized instruction and direct mentorship. While the techniques are complex, we’ll take the time to train you, ensuring success.

The workshop will take place on Sunday, January 19, from noon to 6 PM at a ballet dance studio in San Pedro. Participants should bring a camera with a short telephoto or zoom, backup memory cards, and fully charged batteries. All specialized lighting equipment and professional dancers will be provided.

In addition, a Zoom webinar on Thursday evening, January 16, will explain all the logistics of the workshop - and a second Zoom webinar on Monday evening, January 20, will cover the editing and image delivery process.

One week following the workshop, participants will submit their best images, receive individualized email feedback, a private workshop web page with everyone’s images, and the sharing of their photos with the dancers.
This is not merely a workshop—but an opportunity to reimagine the photographic representation of bodies in motion.

Workshop Schedule:

Zoom Lecture: Thursday, January 16th @7pm

Hands-On Workshop: Sunday, January 19th @noon-6

Zoom Review Session: Monday, October 20th@7pm

Instructor Bio: George is an ex-East-Coast-based advertising photographer, with over 30 years of experience in providing services to Corporate and Editorial clients. Projects have included providing photography for annual reports, advertising, and marketing materials, and magazine features shot at locations around the world. A life-long advocate for photographers’ rights, he has served on both the national and the LA board of directors of the American Photographic Artists and currently leads the Los Angeles Digital Imaging Group. George is also a photography educator who has taught at UCLA Extension (2007 Instructor of the Year), Samy’s Camera, and one-on-one. Every summer George leads travel photography workshops in Bali, Indonesia. In August 2011 George was recognized as one of the 13 Best Workshop Instructors, nationwide, by PDN Magazine, the Bible of the commercial photography industry. In July 2018 Digital Photo Pro Magazine profiled him and his specialized lighting of dancers and acrobats, in a feature article that can be read here (https://www.digitalphotopro.com/profiles/the-art-of-movement)

By registering for this workshop, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions. Click here to view our Terms and Conditions. You will be required to sign a waiver prior to the workshop.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation or refund requests must be made via email 30 days prior to the course.

Host or Publisher Samy's Camera and CinemaWorks